China says U.S. and allies have duty to aid Afghanistan

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi listens during a meeting in Manila, Philippines January 16, 2021. Francis Malasig/Pool via REUTERS

REUTERS

 

China's foreign minister Wang Yi said the United States and its allies have more of a duty to supply economic and humanitarian aid to Afghanistan than any other country, according to a statement from the foreign ministry on Wednesday.

They should help Afghanistan's positive development while respecting its sovereignty and independence, he said.

Wang, who is also China's state councillor, made the comments via video to a meeting of diplomats from Afghanistan's neighbours, according to the statement.

China shares a land border with Afghanistan, where the Taliban on Tuesday named a new government. The Islamist militant group retook control of Afghanistan last month as U.S.-led foreign forces were ending a 20-year presence in the country.

Wang said China would provide 200 million yuan ($31 million) worth of grain, winter supplies, vaccines and medicine to Afghanistan, adding that it had already decided to donate an initial batch of 3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Afghan people.

He called on the Taliban to cut ties with all extreme terrorist forces and take measures to crack down on them.

"All parties should strengthen intelligence sharing and border control cooperation to catch and eliminate terrorist groups that have sneaked in from Afghanistan," in order to ensure regional security and stability, Wang said.

Afghanistan also shares borders with Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Reporting by Gabriel Crossley; additional reporting by Beijing Newsroom and Tom Daly; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Jonathan Oatis